Building a rod CHEAPLY and QUICKLY

[greaseball]

So in a few months I will be looking to build a rod
as CHEAP as possible
and as QUICK as possible-
With no REAL regard to TRADITIONALISM
or anything else that would be a "handicap" on cost...

So, at the risk of pissing EVERYONE off,
Can I get some suggestions?
Build a "VOLKSROD"...?
Make my own frame/body and slap a TOYOTA motor in it...?

There's a wrecked 57 Chevy truck out at my Grandparents-
All it's parts are FREE...
The only catch is if I "pick it apart",
I have to see that it "gets gone"

What can/should be used off that?
(the motors SHOT, dunno about the trans/rearend)

Where/when would be good places to find parts?

Bottom line here:
I would like to put together a somewhat traditional
LOOKING rod as CHEAP as possible-

Here's a pic or two to get the idea's flowin',
Thanks!

[greaseball]

I'm looking ffor something that I basically
WON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT!
Something w/very few
(if any)
Hard to find/rare parts-
If something BREAKS
I want to be able to go down to the local AUTO MART
to buy it...
Not special order it from a catalogue, or spend TWO DAYS making it myself.

I want something I can be ROUGH with,
And if/when shit DOES break,
It won't cost me an arm and a leg and 6 days to fix...

Just a "beater" that looks COOL-
Any idea's...?

[ray]

sounds like a bang up idea, trash a beetle instead of some RARE OLD sheetmetal! then build a BAD ASS xs650 chopper to go with it!

[DrJ]

Sounds like a Civic with WWWs.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Mai Ki-Ki]

greaseball!

I *risking being shot here* actually love those little bug rods. Most ppl seem to hate 'em. But if you like it, do it.

The chix will probably dig it....!

Build something you want...worrying wot other people think results in red 32's with halibrands. All the KOOL SHIT on here is DIFFERENT. imho.

go for it.
MAIKI

[gettingreasy]

Build a mullet mobile that is the new trend I'm starting!!! Thats what I'm gonna do, I gotta 73 ranchero GT with a big block and slot mags, even has a wipper antenna taller than my house(perfect)!!! Why not build a Bug, a nice California style with a roll top and a luggage rack and some WWW's on a slamed bug, would be cool, you can get parts anywere, beat the shit outta it, and most importantly have fun with and maybe get alil' puss to.
-Jesse

[k-member]

52plybizcoupe on here picked up a model A fordor in eastern Wa.that we made a tudor out of for free (60 bucks in gas). 180 bucks later the frame was done. A fellow hamber from kent gave him a front axle, spring,spindles and bones and a pedal ass. Red Meat gave him a 9" P/U rearend. I donated a steering box a place to work on it and other small mis. parts. And then bought a 62 Buick that runs killer with 401NH for 300 bucks. This was 6 weeks ago and he's got one hell of a start for around 540 bucks. Talk about cheap and quik....good luck.

[greaseball]

K-member-
DAMN!
That's what I could go for!
Just something CHEAP and EASY
(Ladies...? Are you listening...?)

So what's anybody think?
Should I do the bug thing and paint it PUSSY PINK
(Cause I'd be a FAG)
Or should I search out those "Yea, you can have that hunk of shit" parts...?

GettingGreasy-
The only way I'd build a "mullet-mobile"
was if I had the outstanding HAIR to back it up...
And quite frankly...
I'm just not that committed...
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Fat Hack]

T-bucket.

Seriously! Best to start with someone else's cast-off or half-finished project, but you can litteraly start from the ground up.

You could start with a generic kit frame, but I've always liked the idea of building upon a Model A frame myself. They're not a whole lot more than T frames, and they're a better foundation.

Stick with the basics on the suspension...dropped axle front with a buggy sprung rear. An 8" Ford is a good, cheap housing to hang out back and a low-buck or FREE small block Ford or Chevy with an appropriate auto tranny is the easiest and cheapest way to go.

Toss on a 'glass classic T body, or something cooler like the 27 RPU body on the market now and button it up with as many low buck and scrounged parts as you can find.

Cheap, easy, fun and something to hone your skills on. Drive the living shit out of it for a while and then sell it to some scenester for enough cash to move up the ladder by starting on a more ambitious project!

Just a thought!

[greaseball]

Fat Hack-
I fucking LOVE you dude!
Any thoughts on where I could locate a
"T bucket" body DIRT CHEAP?
Or a damn FREE smallblock (and transmission, and rear-end, etc)?
I could scounge quite a few things from that chevy truck that way too-

What about building a frame...?
Somebody MUST have some websites that detail that...?

[praisethelowered]

the same question led me to a 6 cylinder ranchero - you can pick them up for almost free and they are basically dressed down mustangs so parts are cheap and plentiful- and you can haul parts for your "real" car in the back.

[james]

Try this place- www.volksrods.com (http://www.volksrods.com) and www.thesamba.com (http://www.thesamba.com)
Why not just find a cheap running bug and stick with the vdub motor?

[james]

Oh yeah, check out the forum on the volksrod site--shhhhh, there's some closet HAMBer's on there... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

[james]

Here's one I like-

[Fat Hack]

T-bucket bodies, frames and abandoned projects show up on e-gay all the time. Considered the "trailer trash" of the rodding world, they're not usually expensive to buy or build.

I think they're a great way to build a low buck rod, and you can personalize one millions of ways! The sky and your imagination are your only limits!

(They don't HAVE to be tacky!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

As for cheap or free motors, they're out there. If I can score 'em...you can too!

I'd help you out, but you're a long ways away!

[james]

oops-

[**DONOTDELETE**]

this may have been already covered but.....where is the "afterparty" for the home-built, traditional style rods Saturday night after the "cacklefest" at the CHRR in Bako?


I've seen a lot of things, but I haven't seen a lot of other things.
sb
bava17@aol.com

[four-thirteen]

I don't know if cheap means a hundred bucks or four grand, but I bet you could slap together a model A two-door on the cheap. Get an econoline van front axle and brakes, hung on hairpins with quarter-eliptical leafs and a panard bar. chevy powered, with 8" ford rear. use the same setup as the front to hang the rear end. toss on any old grille shell, and cut a gm radiator to fit inside. I'm thinking side steer, with any old box. Cut down the dash from a early to mid 60s car and weld it in, with the column from same. Thats what I got. Dave

[Fat Hack]

One tip about building a rod quickly and cheaply is to leave off everything you don't NEED, and concentrate on making what you DO include in your project as nice as possible.

Running a stripped down fenderless rod not only gives your ride a genuine hot rod look, it cuts down the time and cost involved as well. Keep the body as basic as possible, and avoid hanging doo-dads and gee-gaws off of the car at every corner. You don't want it to look like a pile of odd parts, you want it to look like a functional CAR!

Go no-frills with every sub-assembly. Get the car running with a cleaned up smog era V8. Lose the emissions crap and incorporate a few carefully selected bolt-ons into your engine package.

Add only what you NEED to the interior. A set of 50 gauges and a 10-CD changer stuffed into the tiny confines of a typical rod interior make it look like the storage closet at a Radio Shack or something...cluttered with gizmos and an overall mess!

Try to picture this:

An aftermarket Model A frame scored at a swap meet with a basic dropped front axle and early F100 brakes. An 8" Ford junkyard axle hung out back on a buggy spring with stock gears and brakes. A 23 T body painted one solid color and equipped with a turtledeck rear portion hiding the battery and a small fuel tank.

Inside, a simple padded bench with a junkyard floor shift and a basic three-spoke swap meet steering wheel. Powering the car is a 305 Chevy with a swap meet intake, rebuilt Q-jet, chrome air cleaner and used aluminum valve covers. A set of used Rams Horn exhaust manifolds lead into dual run under the car and the motor sits between a stock TH350 tranny and a chopped-down fiberglass Deuce shell over a small radiator.

Rolling stock consists of painted steel junkyard wheels with chrome lug nuts and Pep Boys radials that cost $25 each.

It won't be the prettiest rod anywhere, but it's something that can be built for a reasonable amount of money in a short period of time at home by the average hot rodder. You can always add some tastefull striping, engine bolt-ons, and other upgrades later.

Make and keep close contacts within the rodding community, and look for deals. Ask around and you will find all sorts of parts you need cheap or free from friends. Get your buddies to pitch in and help you with the project. When they see it starting to take shape, they will be eager to help you get it done and on the road. With a little effort on your part, you can build something like this without too much trouble, I'm sure of it!

[Fat Hack]

Just to show you what's on e-bay...it's a START!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10076&item=2435695 502

[wingnutz]

Bugs are cool..., But I've found several Model A and T steel bodies "cheap" (under $600 each!) the past few months and have resold them to friends for about the same price I paid for them. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif (not perfect but mostly there!)

My problem is that my eye's are bigger than my garage! But I couldn't see them sitting somewhere where they will deteriorate to nothing. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

So I end up selling them off to other people who have space parts, and time to put them together. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Just drive around..., Keep your eye's peeled and ask people if they know where to find old cars...? the deals are everywhere on vintage tin.

And your best deal you'll find is a project that someone has given up on and it will most likely be right in your backyard! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

No Kidden' Mark http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[VolksRodder]

Justin... I say go for it. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
If'n ya decide to go that route, drop by my forum at volksrods.com, we'll help ya out.

http://volksrods.com/113f4770.jpg
http://volksrods.com/0cd902c0.jpg

[wingnutz]

Hunt for the Biggest Bang for the buck what ever it is. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

But just in the last year I've bought 2 - 1927 "T" Roadster Bodies, 2 Running 1931 Model A Coupes, Two rolling chassis (Boxed Model A's) for less than $4,800.

One of the coupes is on the road with a Pontiac 326 Tri-carbs for less than 3 Grand!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Just paid $400 for a 1959 Buick Invicta "Running Donor" With all the parts to get another one of the model A's on the road! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I don't plan on having more than a couple of grand into something that will turn more heads and have a greater performance and resale than anything else on the road for the same money!

If you have the skills, the tools, and a game plan you'll be much farther ahead.

I'm sure the VW dudes could help you out a lot..., But you came to this board for a reason and I'm assuming it was to build something that the VW guys have been trying to emulate..., a tried and true "American Hot Rod"!

Some have the Americn "Attitude" and the "ingenuity" but it's still a cute VW! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

So What's it going to Be..., a Real Hot Rod or a vw...? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Mark

[Travis]

JUSTIN!!!

STEP AWAY FROM THE CRACK!

Seriously bro... I think you have enough shit to put SOMETHING together without having to go and buy ANOTHER project which will take away from your existing shit???

And about that 57 Chevy truck you got laying around somewhere... if you decide not to use it but your granparents want it out of there, want to do a little trading? I scored a 55 1/2 ton shortbed BBW truck and it will need a few things...

Email me or swing by.

Travis

[=mike=]

is that a bus roof/window on that thing . . .? thats fucking cool !


http://volksrods.com/0cd902c0.jpg

[greaseball]

Travis-
Check your e-mail,
YES I would like to do some trading!
Thank you!

[Jimv]

hers mine,$4300 & 8 months!!

[porknbeaner]

If I recall the last time I saw a bug forsale it was higher than a cats back.

The truck is "FREE" <font color="red"> </font> and those are pretty easy to find pieces for. A small block Chebby and a slush box won't cost you much, six hole wheels are easy to come by. The metal is thick (well except where it has been acid dipped by nature) and good to practice on.

They had fair (good http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif) lines from the factory.

And The truck is "FREE" <font color="red"> </font>, you can beat the hell out of it (literally) and then when you're done cruise by my place for burgers and a beer (or several) you'll be too drunk to drive so I'll take you to the bus station. Leave it here and ride home in ona dos big limos.

and The truck is "FREE" <font color="red"> </font>, doesn't get any cheaper than that. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif


it it don't get ya dirty it aint yours http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[haring]

I suggest this:
http://people.montana.com/~wwjd/sparky/images/side03s.jpg

or this:
http://images.burningman.com/gallery/young.259.jpg

or perhaps this one:
http://www.mediadog.com/tropicar/edartcar/img02.jpg

It's a hot rod. It has flames and skull-n-crossbones. That's all you need.

[Fat Hack]

I'd hate to drive that van on a winding road or a windy day!!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Plowboy]

Remember the Saturday Night Ad with the "Adobe" brand car?
If you get in a wreck just mud in a new chunk.

Apparently they are still in business and have started producing an SUV.

[james]

I hate to say it, but that ford festiva baja thing (although uglier than hell) looks like it'd be fun to throw around some dirt trails. Maybe I just need a nap.

[Mai Ki-Ki]

You have one of these?
Fuck the cheap rod...spend a tiny bit on this and it could be sweeeet!

http://www.flamethrowers.com/rides_images/brian57a.jpg

MAIKI